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The xx on World Cafe | March 25, 2013

Romy Croft, Oliver Sim and Jamie Smith are The xx, an indie-pop band formed in the London borough of Wandsworth. Layering spare arrangements with synths, pulsing bass and haunting vocals, The xx's minimalist approach helped win the trio's debut, xx, the Mercury Prize for Best Album in 2010.

For its second full-length record, Coexist, the band drew on electronic music its members discovered while on tour. On this installment of World Café, The xx plays a few songs from Coexist and talks with host David Dye about creating its sound and dealing with success. (Link)

This World Cafe session was originally published on March 1, 2013.

Tracklisting
(( )) for interlude music

The National “Bloodbuzz Ohio” High Violet
Iron & Wine “Grace for Saints and Ramblers” Ghost on Ghost
Paul Simon “Dazzling Blue” So Beautiful Of So What
St. Vincent “Cruel” Strange Mercy
((The XX “Sunset” Recorded Live for the World Cafe))
The XX “Angels” Recorded Live for the World Cafe
The XX “Chained” Recorded Live for the World Cafe
The XX “Fiction” Recorded Live for the World Cafe
The XX “Sunset” Recorded Live for the World Cafe
((The XX “Heart Skipped A Beat” XX))
Divine Fits “Would That Not Be Nice”’ A Thing Called Divine Fits
Soul Asylum “Somebody to Shove” Grave Dancer’s Union
Bobby Long “Devil Moon” Wishbone
Jacco Gardner “Puppets Dangling” Cabinet of Curiosities
The Kinks “Days” The Kink Kronicles
David & David “Welcome to the Boomtown” Boomtown
Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside “They Told Me” Untamed Beast
Joe Cocker “Hitchcock Railway” Joe Cocker
Eels “New Alphabet” Wonderful Glorious
Jack White “Love Interruption” Blunderbuss
Calexico “Fortune Teller” Algiers
((Yo La Tengo “Ill Be Around” Recorded Live for the World Cafe))
Kail Baxley “Say Goodbye to the Night” Heat Stroke/The Wind and the War
The Black Crowes “Jealous Again” Croweology
Justin Townes Earle “Look The Other Way” Nothing’s Gonna Change The Way You Feel About Me Now
((Gotye “Somebody That I Used to Know” Making Mirrors))
Wild Belle “Keep You” Isles
Toots Hibbert “Love and Happiness” Toots in Memphis
Citizen Cope “Contact” Citizen Cope
David Wax Museum “Harder Before It Gets Easier” Knock Knock Get Up
((The Kyle Sowashes “I Would Like To Speak To YR Manager” Nobdy))